Sunderland aim for six successive derby day delights

Sunderland have won each of the last five Tyne-Wear derbies against bitter rivals Newcastle United, and on three of those occasions previous managers have got themselves up and running as Black Cats boss. No pressure, then, for latest appointment Sam Allardyce.

Coral make the Mackems, who are hosting the Toon Army at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, 17/10 chances for a sixth successive victory over their Northeast neighbours, but the big question is can this prevailing trend on derby day continue?

In Allardyce, Sunderland now have a manager that endured a tumultuous eight months in charge of the Magpies (2007-08) when his stock was at his highest, having steering Bolton Wanderers to a League Cup final and into Europe.

Big Sam’s Black Cats boss brethren beat Newcastle

Although Allardyce predecessors Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet and Dick Advcoaat are very different coaches both to each other and to him, they all share that common thread of victory on derby day to kickstart their spells in charge on Wearside.

Who can forget fiery Italian Di Canio’s jubilant celebrations in April 2013 during an intense 13-match period at the Sunderland helm? The Latin temper of Uruguayan gaffer Poyet, meanwhile, presided over three wins (two to nil) in this fixture.

Dutch coach Advocaat steered Sunderland to edge the most recent derby with Jermain Defoe (7/4 to net again anytime) grabbing a stunning winner of the stroke of half-time, and the diminutive striker is available to Allardyce to do further damage here. Relive Defoe’s sensational strike:

Allardyce insists no Toon grudge but will want win

“I never had a chance once Mike Ashley took over,” Big Sam writes in his autobiography about his time in charge of Newcastle. “I wasn’t his man and he just listened to more vocal fans who demanded change.

“I’m sure Mike expected Harry [Redknapp] to take over, but he stayed put and instead fans’ hero Kevin Keegan returned to appease them. To be fair Mike did the honourable thing and gave me the okay for a sensible deal. I’d rather have kept the job, but the settlement softened the blow.”

While there may be no hard feelings over his sacking just eight months into a four-year contract at St James’ Park, there are plenty of signs which point to Big Sam coming back to haunt Newcastle and continuing their run of humiliating defeats on derby day. Unlike previous occasions, though, the Magpies come into this clash off the back of victory and a big one in the 6-2 win over Norwich City.